Features: Sixth annual Chamber Music Festival comes back to Clare

In terms of music, Co Clare may be largely associated with traditional, especially with Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann being in Ennis the last few years, but there’s another different type of music event returning to the banner county this summer- the sixth annual Killaloe Chamber Music Festival.

The 6th annual Killaloe Chamber Music Festival, featuring a mix of eight concerts over a single weekend, will run from Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th of May in the Heritage town of Killaloe, Co. Clare.

The Festival will be opened by Czech-born, award-winning author, and Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental and will see the Irish premiere of children’s chamber opera ‘Brundibár’, starring Limerick Children’s Choir ‘Cantette’, accompanied by members of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and directed by Limerick-born Marc Atkinson.

Brundibár was performed over fifty times in the Thereisenstadt concentration camp – and according to the Festival Chair- this is a story of ‘hope in the face of adversity – definitely not to be missed’.

‘Autumn in May’

According to Trish Taylor Thompson, this year’s theme, ‘Autumn in May’ celebrates the later works of some of the great composers written during the ‘Autumn’ of their lives.

“Schubert and Brahms, Mozart and Mendelssohn, Piazzolla and Martinu wrote some of their most profound chamber music, sizzling with energy and glowing with beauty during this time” she says.

“When the Killaloe Chamber Music Festival rolls around each year, you know that Summer is in the air. What’s so special about the Festival is that it not only brings national and international stars to our doorstep but it also provides a diverse programme of events for all ages. And this year is no exception. Who would have imagined having the opportunity to see Colin Dunne dance to a Shostokovich string quartet with the acclaimed Carducci Quartet?”

-Trish Taylor Thompson, Festival Chair

Each year the Festival showcases new talent at the ‘Emerging Artists Platform’. On Saturday 26th May the morning ‘Coffee Concert’ welcomes virtuoso pianist and violinist Kevin Jansson from Cork.

Trish tells us:

“Rising star Kevin Jansson will play both violin and piano, not necessarily at the same time, in the Emerging Artist Platform. With music by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Strauss and even Piazzolla, you’ll be tango-ing in the pews.”

Trish Taylor Thompson adds that a ‘popular highlight ‘of the Festival is the ‘Late-Night Concert’ that takes place on Saturday 26h May with a ‘unique take’ on Shostakovich’s String Quartet No.8, when world-class dancer Colin Dunne takes to the stage with the Carducci String Quartet.

The final concert of the festival takes place on Sunday evening. Samoan baritone singer Benson Wilson makes his Irish debut singing Brahms, and the Carducci String Quartet (pictured) closes the concert with Schubert’s String Quintet in C major.

The last words go to the Festival Chair:

“Within the atmospheric 12th century walls of St. Flannan’s Cathedral, you’ll find a festival of events that is unique, welcoming and world class. It’s a chamber music festival to beat all chamber music festivals. With the vision of artistic director Joachim Roewer, Killaloe welcomes in Summer while you enjoy music written by some of the worlds finest composers in the Autumn of their lives”.

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